Hello! Newbie here! This is my first ever piece of cast iron. Hubby found it cleaning out his dad's basement. It was covered in crud and I thought it was junk until I read up online about cleaning & seasoning. It was so covered, I wasn't even aware there was writing on the bottom of the skillet. I'm so thrilled with it's transformation! I've used it everyday since re-seasoning; several times/day actually! When I googled the inscription, I think I'm finding that this skillet was made by Wagner in Sidney, Ohio sometime between the late 1800s and 1914, when the logo changed. Can anyone tell me if that is correct? Also can anyone venture a guess as to its worth? I could never part with it, but I'd just like to know. None of his siblings wanted it because they thought it was in disgusting condition when it was found. If it's as old as I think it is, I love that I'm cooking with a piece of history. I also wish I knew where my in-laws acquired it from. Thanks for any insights on its age & value.Rosie

The Red Book dates a similar skillet from around 1895-1915. The earliest Wagners simply have the name Wagner in quotations, but yours is still an early logo. Ebay completed auctions is a good place to start for current prices. There is a Buy It Now auction on the site for one similar to yours for $25 + shipping. The number 8 skillet is the most common one to find. That said, you still have a very nice skillet. It is good to see you are still using it.

Rosie, that's the way I feel when I cook in them, too. It's also what I tell my wife when she groans as I walk through the door with yet another skillet. "But, honey, I'm rescuing a piece of history!" Ha!

The Red Book dates a similar skillet from around 1895-1915. The earliest Wagners simply have the name Wagner in quotations, but yours is still an early logo. Ebay completed auctions is a good place to start for current prices. There is a Buy It Now auction on the site for one similar to yours for $25 + shipping. The number 8 skillet is the most common one to find. That said, you still have a very nice skillet. It is good to see you are still using it.

Thank you for confirming the dates! I will check out eBay auctions as you suggest. I'm not sure if the quotation marks are visible in my photos above, but they are there. I don't think I would have noticed them til you mentioned it, but I definitely see them around "Wagner" and "Sidney," as well as a period after the O.! I never would have noticed those before, thinking they were just random indentations in the casting! Thank you again. My husband has been an industrial buyer his entire career and he marvels at the craftsmanship involved. He said he can't imagine the skill it took to sand cast such a smooth skillet over a hundred years ago. It's really my favorite kitchen tool these days!

Rosie, that's the way I feel when I cook in them, too. It's also what I tell my wife when she groans as I walk through the door with yet another skillet. "But, honey, I'm rescuing a piece of history!" Ha!

Where are you finding your new additions? This is all new to me, but I'm thinking I'd like to get my hands on a 12" skillet so I can make bigger batches of fried chicken. I can always use my stainless steel frypans, like I've done forever, but I LOVE cast iron now... I don't think I've touched any of my stainless steel skillets since this one arrived in my kitchen!

Years ago I talked of getting a Dutch oven for our fire pit, but never did. I'm not sure how often I'd use it out there, plus I was intimidated by the thought of a new way of cooking. Maybe now is the time for that as well. Hmm...